From the very beginning all beings are buddha-
like water and ice- without water no ice- outside us no buddhas
How near the truth- yet how far we seek-
like one in water crying "I thirst"-
like a child of rich birth wandering poor on this earth-
we endlessly circle the Six Worlds
The cause of our sorrow is ego delusion-
from dark path to path we've wandered in darkness-
how can we be free of birth and death?
The gateway to freedom is zazen samadhi-
beyond exaltation, beyond all our praises- the pure Mahayana
Upholding the precepts- repentance and giving-
the thousand good deeds- and the way of right living
all come from zazen
Thus one true samadhi extinguishes evils-
it purifies karma- dissolving obstructions-
then where are the dark paths to lead us astray?
the pure Lotus Land is not far away
Hearing this truth- heart humble and grateful-
to praise and embrace it- to practice its wisdom-
brings unending blessings- brings mountains of merit-
And when we turn inward- and prove our True Nature-
that true self is no self- our own self is no self-
we go beyond ego and past clever words
Then the gate to the oneness of cause and effect is thrown open-
not two and not three- straight ahead runs the Way
Our form being no-form- in going and coming we never leave home-
our thought being no thought
our dancing and songs are the voice of dharma
How vast is the heaven of boundless samadhi-
how bright and transparent the moonlight of wisdom-
what is there outside us- what is there we lack?
Nirvana is openly shown to our eyes-
this earth where we stand is the pure Lotus Land-
and this very body- the body of Buddha
Dai-KaiJo is written by inmates and dedicated to their practice of Zen Buddhism.
©2005 Dai-KaiJo, 427 Moreland Ave Suite 700 Atlanta, GA 30307
Editor at DaiKaiJo dot org